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Publix: No dogs in grocery carts, including service pets

Associated Press
Published 2:56 p.m. ET July 28, 2018

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The new Publix-anchored Sky Walk Shopping Center. Gateway, a part of Lee County known for its family-friendly residential feel, is making a name for itself in the workforce. Just in the past year or so: Gartner employs over 1,600 people here and expects to employ 2,300 here by 2022. Alta Resources and Alorica are also large employers in the community. Retail jobs have come to the new Publix-anchored Sky Walk Shopping Center. There is also Fort Myers Brewing Company, the Saucy Meatball, a gym and a new day care, with Skinny Dogz opening in June. (Photo11: Andrea Melendez/The News-Press)Buy Photo

MIAMI — If you've been bringing Fido grocery shopping with you, sticking him in your shopping cart and passing him off as a "service animal," beware. Florida grocery chain Publix is cracking down.

The grocery store has posted new signs at the store saying only service animals trained to aid those with disabilities are allowed in the store. No service animals are allowed to sit or ride in shopping carts.

A spokesman for Publix told the Orlando Sentinel that's always been the policy, but said the store decided to post the signs to make customers more aware.

Service animals have become a controversial issue as several states have tried to crack down on people potentially abusing federal disability laws. Growing complaints have also emerged as more people have tried to sneak pets onto airlines under the guise of service dogs.